Alsarah is a Brooklyn based singer, songwriter and Giant Step team member hailing from Khartoum, Sudan. She loves to travel, does not like long walks on the beach, and prefers kimchi to cake.

Alsarah shares her experience:

Today I go to vote for the first time as a Sudanese citizen. Three weeks ago I could not contain my excitement about this momentous occasion, but today I sadly know it won’t count for anything. Despite the reports flooding in about rampant cheating in the electoral process, not to mention the recent withdrawal of the majority of other presidential candidates, I like to tell myself at least I am getting some practice in on my right for self determination.

This being the first election since 1985, it has been getting a lot international attention, and a lot of media is being produced on the country in general. Among the international organizations focusing on the topic is Media in Cooperation and Transition, aka MICT, in association with the German Foreign Office, who have been running an online campaign covering the elections in general, and released a compilation of songs by Sudanese singers and song writers, of which I was one, relating to the elections titled Sudan Votes Music Hopes. I was in Berlin for the SVMH release party when I received the news that most of the candidates running for the elections had withdrawn from the race a mere few days before people were due to go to the ballots.

While deeply dejected, I feel that at least now so many of the people of Sudan had made it clear they seek a democratic change, and that gives me hope to look forward to the possibility of a fair elections in the not so distant future.

On January 12th, an earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, leveling buildings, trapping thousands beneath the rubble and devastating the country’s already meager resources. In the aftermath of the disaster, the world has witnessed the terrible human impact of the earthquake and many have sought to find some small measure of hope in the face of such tragedy by doing whatever they can to help the people of Haiti. In that spirit, DJBooth.net invited artists from around the world to submit music to support relief efforts. The result is Rhymes & Rhythm for Relief, a compilation album whose proceeds will go entirely to the humanitarian organization CARE.

The album features original and unreleased music from Justin Garner, K. Sparks, Novel, O’Neal McKnight, Pastor Troy and many more. “One of my favorite sayings is ‘Actions speak louder than words,’” states Brian Zisook, DJBooth.net VP & Editor In Chief. “We were thrilled to have over 100 artists submit to the project and from that we are making 25 of our favorite tracks available on Rhymes & Rhythm for Relief.”